The Prentice Hall textbook "Realidades 3, workbooks, audio cds, videos, interactive web links and handouts are used to develop each student’s ability to read, write, speak and understand spoken Spanish. Students are encouraged to take full advantage of the learning environment inside the classroom, not every assignment will be graded for points, but they do contribute to the overall learning that is happening.
To be brought to class everyday:
1. Spanish notebook
Practice Workbook: Please do NOT tear out the pages
Student Planner: Each student is responsible for writing down his/her homework and due dates. Homework is posted and explained IN CLASS and scores are posted on the Q. Absent students are RESPONSIBLE obtaining their assignments upon return, before a foreseen absence, or from a classmate while out.
Homework:
If the assignment is complete you will receive full credit. If it is not complete, you will receive no credit. However, if you do not understand a question on your homework and you want to receive full credit for the assignment you may do the following to receive credit:
1. write out the full question you don’t understand
translate it word for word
write down the part of the question that is causing you difficulty and explain WHY?
If you do these 3 things, you will still receive full credit, most likely you will at this point understand the homework question…. That’s the point!
Homework is corrected in class. Students should correct their work in a RED pen, they will not be penalized for incorrect answers. Once homework has been corrected and explained, the students are responsible for the information and should be prepared for a quiz at anytime about the information covered.
Absent Homework Assignments:
Each student is responsible for their own homework assignments. For those students who miss class, it is their responsibility to call a classmate or check the homework board when they return from their excused absence. “I was absent and I didn’t know” is NOT an excuse for turning in late work. Students have the same number of days they were absent to turn in their homework when they return. Only excused absence assignments can be turned in for credit.
Projects and Assignments (other than homework)
This category applies to any project or assignment which students have a minimum of three days to work on.
Due dates are firm. Assignments are due at the beginning of the period. Anything turned in after that time is considered late with a loss of 50% of the points earned. If the assignment is turned in one day after the due date, it will also be accepted with a loss of 50% of the points earned. Projects and assignments will not be accepted more than one day late.
If a student has an excused absence the day a project is due, it must be turned in by the end of the school day or before the absence. Assignments turned in one day late will be subject to the rules above. If there is an emergency, a parent/guardian should email me before/on the day the assignment is due [email protected]
Make-up work/Tests/Quizzes:
Make up work is the responsibility of the student. Students must attend (and set and appointment with me) the next make-up day in order to receive full credit for the work/assignment. If the student forgets to come the make-up day, the student will only receive 50% of the points earned. TUESDAY during lunch is the set day for ALL make-ups in Q-203. Students are expected to show up whether we discussed it or not.
In cases of prolonged illness or other extenuating circumstance, arrangements must be made with the teacher to clarify due dates. Work and tests missed due to an unexcused absence may not be made up. The student is responsible for clearing absences through the office. If the student fails to do so, no make-up work will be accepted (as per school policy). A student who anticipates being absent on a certain date should consult with the teacher prior to that date to ensure that all work is completed in an acceptable time frame.
Grading
Grade throughout the semester Tests and Quizzes = 60% All other assignments = 40%
All other assignments includes Essays Homework Lecture notes Lecture Quizzes Listening Activities Notebook checks Notes Oral Skits Pair work Presentations Projects Workbook activities Workbook checks Written work in class Note quizzes
Final Semester Grade Tests, Quizzes and all other assignment = 80% Final Exam = 20%
NOTE: There will be no rounding up of grades for students who are on the border between grades. (89.9% = B+)
Communication with Parents and Students The best/fastest way to communicate with me is via email. Grades will not be discussed during class. If a student has a question about a grade, it is his/her responsibility to make an appointment with me to discuss it, send me an email, or come Tuesday during lunch.
Office Hours
Students can get extra help/tutoring and make up tests/quizzes on Tuesdays during lunch. If a student misses a test or quiz it is assumed and expected that they will be in my room the following Tuesday to make up the quiz/test. They are responsible for remembering to come and make up the test. Forgetting to come will result in a docked score of 50%.
I am excited to work with this new group of students. I am here to help and please feel free to email me at any time during the year if you have questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Reynaldo Serrano
Study Tips for Spanish Students
Here are some study tips…… (and there are some more tips in the beginning pages of the text and you can “Go Online” on that page for more ideas too!)
Make flash cards of the important vocabulary. Show the English side of the flash card and give the Spanish meaning. Make sure you can spell the word too.
Go to the website www.phschool.com. There, you can review, do practice activities, and take multiple choice quizzes. You can also do additional activities through the “Go Online” option by entering the web codes noted at the bottom of the Practice Workbook pages and also noted in the text. Also check out the textbook companion for more games and practice.
Call a friend. It’s always a good idea to talk to someone in the class and see if they can explain anything you missed, or did not understand.
Make a self-quiz. You should know what you do and don’t know, so make your own test, put it down for a half an hour and come back and take it to make sure you really did learn the information.
Spanish is written the way it sounds (with a few exceptions). If you can say it, you should be able to spell it. It is important to pronounce the words, phrases and sentences aloud while studying.
Write out translations of all homework assignments. Write down what areas are not understood and why there is confusion.
This is Spanish class, students need to produce the Spanish… if you can’t do that, you will not be successful on the tests/quizzes.
And most IMPORTANTLY, start studying early. Just because there may not be homework doesn’t mean there isn’t anything you can study.
Come in on Tuesdays at lunch for help.
Make a list of the 5 things you know you need to do and could do to improve your grade, and start doing them before you ask me what I think. I will probably agree with you, and this is the first thing I will have you do!